Nathan Deal

Georgia Republicans are holding their state convention in Augusta this weekend, but Governor Deal and House Speaker David Ralston aren’t going to be there. Our panel of insiders look at why two of the state’s top GOP leaders will be no-shows.

AJC political writer Jim Galloway unveils the results of the newspaper’s brand new poll. The panel discusses the poll findings on Governor Deal’s approval rating, how Georgians feel about his vetoes of campus carry and religious liberty, and who stacks up as a better general election candidates against Donald Trump: Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.

With the Georgia primary elections just a little more than two weeks away, our panel of insiders look at the heated GOP congressional races where incumbents Doug Collins and Barry Loudermilk are facing challenges in part because of the very first vote each of them took when they arrived at the U.S. House: helping elect John Boehner speaker. Plus they look at the contest to replace 3rd District congressman Lynn Westmoreland, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Tuesday was the final day for Gov. Nathan Deal to either sign or veto legislation, and while his decision to veto the "campus carry" bill drew considerable attention, the governor also took action on a number of other pieces of legislation.

Gov. Nathan Deal traveled around the state Monday to sign the $23.7 billion fiscal year 2017 budget that includes money for a pay boost for state employees and substantial funding for transportation infrastructure projects.

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston say there will be no special session to override Governor Nathan Deal’s veto of a religious liberty bill. Both leaders would like to take another pass on the bill in the next legislative session.

The “Campus Carry” bill is headed to the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal. After heated debate, HB 859 passed in the state Senate Friday with a vote of 37-17.

The bill would allow licensed gun owners to carry concealed handguns on public college campuses. However, it would not allow the weapons in athletics facilities or student housing, which includes fraternity and sorority houses.